In the mid-nineties, while working as a Hill staffer, I often attended prayer meetings and Bible studies held in the congressional office buildings. I frequently heard then House chaplain James D. Ford say, “Send your good men into the ministry; send your best men into politics.” I’m here to tell you that means women too. Do not be fooled into thinking that if you are building a career or raising a family, you are somehow exempt from an active role in your government or in supporting those in it.
We all have gifts to share, and we are modeling behavior for the next generation, whether that is for our own children or the young people we encounter in our community or work environment. The next generation is watching us. Will they emulate our good works or blame us for leaving them a society that is a tragic mess? In his novel The Power of One, Bryce Courtenay contended that the actions of one person can impact the entire world. Will you have an impact?
I have hope for our country and our world, and I have hope that you will join me, one step at a time, one voice at a time, in this critical moment in our nation’s history.
Be willing to go out and trust God! Remember, an individual can make a difference. Consider these practical steps you can take immediately. The following list offers some suggestions that will fit every personality and calling within the body of Christ. This list is not meant to overwhelm you, just to give you a variety of options for ways to get involved. Pray about what God would have YOU to do personally.
7 Steps to Changing Our Nation for the Better
(1) Pray and fast.
(2) Vote. Many Christians are registered but don’t vote! If every Christian voted faithfully, we would win most of the races.
(3) Get involved in primaries, not just general elections. Everyone needs to be doing something to help good candidates. This is critically important to weed out the good candidates from the mediocre or the bad.
(4) Do your homework on who you are voting for—treat it like a job interview, not a passive activity. Listen to interviews with candidates and officeholders.
(5) Give money directly to good candidates
(6) Volunteer to be a poll worker or poll watcher during the next election. Volunteer to work on a campaign.
(7) Realize that you have influence, and don’t be afraid to use it. It may be two people, or it may be two million, but influence who you can to participate more actively in our political processes.
Once you have explored your options to make an impact as an individual, think about joining others to increase your reach. Think about the audience you want to impress. Link up with a group of people who think like you to sustain you. Then, once you link up, strategize about how to make a difference in your community, county, or state.
This is truly a time for heroes. It is a time for people to stand up and be counted. In the same way that children do not raise themselves and healthy gardens do not stay free of weeds on their own, a nation does not stay strong without the care of its people. It is time that we take full responsibility for what we have been entrusted to steward. Let’s stop focusing only on what is wrong. Let’s appreciate what is right. There’s greatness in the people that make up this country, and there’s greatness in you. So, rise up! It’s time for the body of Christ to step into its own power.